Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A processor comprising: a decoder to decode a first speculative conditional move instruction; a prediction storage to store prediction data related to previously executed speculative conditional move instructions; and execution circuitry to read first prediction data associated with the first speculative conditional move instruction and to execute the first speculative conditional move instruction either speculatively or non-speculatively based on the first prediction data; wherein the execution circuitry is to read a first entry in the prediction storage associated with the first speculative conditional move instruction containing at least one value indicating a confidence level and to speculatively execute the first speculative conditional move instruction if the confidence level is above a threshold; wherein the execution circuitry is further to determine whether the first speculative conditional move instruction was speculated correctly and to responsively update the prediction storage; wherein if the first speculative condition move instruction was not speculated correctly, then the first speculative conditional move instruction is to be re-executed non-speculatively and the execution circuitry is to query a control register to determine whether a condition has been met for performing a move operation.
This invention relates to processor architectures for optimizing the execution of speculative conditional move instructions. The problem addressed is the inefficiency in handling conditional move operations, which can lead to performance bottlenecks due to speculative execution overhead. The solution involves a processor with a decoder, prediction storage, and execution circuitry. The decoder processes a speculative conditional move instruction, while the prediction storage maintains data on previously executed similar instructions. The execution circuitry reads prediction data associated with the current instruction and determines whether to execute it speculatively or non-speculatively based on a confidence level stored in the prediction storage. If the confidence level exceeds a predefined threshold, the instruction is executed speculatively. The execution circuitry then verifies the correctness of the speculation and updates the prediction storage accordingly. If the speculation was incorrect, the instruction is re-executed non-speculatively, and the execution circuitry checks a control register to determine if conditions for performing the move operation are met. This approach improves processor efficiency by reducing unnecessary speculative execution while maintaining accuracy.
2. The processor of claim 1 wherein the prediction storage comprises a table having a plurality of entries, each entry associated with one or more previously executed speculative conditional move instructions.
The invention relates to a processor system that improves performance by predicting and executing speculative conditional move instructions. Conditional move instructions are used to conditionally transfer data between registers based on a predicate condition, but they can introduce pipeline stalls if the condition is not resolved quickly. The system addresses this by predicting the outcome of these instructions before the condition is fully evaluated, allowing the processor to execute the move operation speculatively and reduce stalls. The processor includes a prediction storage mechanism that stores historical data about previously executed conditional move instructions. This storage is implemented as a table with multiple entries, where each entry is linked to one or more past speculative conditional move instructions. The table helps the processor make accurate predictions for future conditional move instructions by leveraging patterns from prior executions. When a new conditional move instruction is encountered, the processor checks the prediction storage to determine the likely outcome, enabling early speculative execution. If the prediction is correct, the processor avoids unnecessary stalls; if incorrect, it discards the speculative result and re-executes the instruction correctly. This approach enhances processing efficiency by minimizing pipeline delays while maintaining correctness.
3. The processor of claim 2 wherein an entry is to be associated with a particular address or portion thereof associated with the one or more previously executed speculative conditional move instructions.
A system and method for optimizing speculative conditional move instructions in a processor involves tracking and managing speculative execution paths to improve performance and reduce mispredictions. The technology addresses the inefficiency in modern processors where speculative conditional move instructions may lead to incorrect execution paths, wasting computational resources and degrading performance. The invention includes a processor with a mechanism to associate entries in a tracking structure with specific memory addresses or portions of addresses linked to previously executed speculative conditional move instructions. This allows the processor to efficiently identify and manage speculative execution paths, reducing the overhead of handling mispredictions and improving overall system performance. The tracking structure dynamically updates based on the execution of conditional move instructions, ensuring accurate and timely association of addresses with speculative operations. By correlating speculative instructions with memory addresses, the processor can more effectively predict and manage speculative execution, minimizing unnecessary computations and enhancing efficiency. The system also includes logic to validate and discard incorrect speculative paths, further optimizing performance. This approach is particularly useful in high-performance computing environments where speculative execution plays a critical role in maintaining throughput and efficiency.
4. The processor of claim 1 wherein the execution circuit is to perform the move operation in response to detecting the condition.
A system and method for optimizing data movement in a processor involves detecting a specific condition during execution and performing a move operation in response. The processor includes an execution circuit that monitors for predefined conditions, such as data alignment, memory access patterns, or performance thresholds. When such a condition is detected, the execution circuit automatically triggers a move operation to transfer data between registers or memory locations. This reduces latency and improves efficiency by eliminating the need for explicit move instructions or manual intervention. The system may also include a condition detection circuit that identifies the triggering condition and a control circuit that coordinates the move operation. The move operation can involve copying, shifting, or reordering data to optimize subsequent processing steps. This approach enhances performance in applications requiring frequent data movement, such as multimedia processing or scientific computing, by minimizing overhead and maximizing throughput. The system is particularly useful in high-performance computing environments where efficient data handling is critical.
5. The processor of claim 4 wherein the control register comprises an EFLAGS register and the condition comprises one or more bits being set in the EFLAGS register.
The invention relates to a processor system that monitors and controls execution flow based on processor state conditions. The system includes a processor with a control register, such as an EFLAGS register, which stores status flags indicating processor conditions like arithmetic results, interrupts, or privilege levels. The processor further includes a control unit that detects when one or more specific bits in the EFLAGS register are set, representing a particular condition. Upon detecting this condition, the control unit triggers a predefined action, such as halting execution, branching to a different instruction, or invoking a handler routine. This mechanism allows the processor to dynamically adjust its behavior based on runtime conditions, improving error handling, security checks, or performance optimizations. The system may also include a memory unit storing instructions and a bus for data transfer, ensuring synchronized operation. The invention addresses the need for efficient condition-based execution control in processors, particularly in scenarios requiring real-time responses to system states.
6. A method comprising: decoding a first speculative conditional move instruction; storing prediction data related to previously executed speculative conditional move instructions in a prediction storage; and reading the first prediction data associated with the speculative conditional move instruction, the reading comprising reading a first entry in the prediction storage associated with the first speculative conditional move instruction containing at least one value indicating a confidence level; speculatively executing the speculative conditional move instruction if the confidence level is above a threshold; determining whether the speculatively conditional move instruction was speculated correctly and responsively updating the prediction storage; re-executing the speculative conditional move instruction non-speculatively if the speculative conditional move instruction was not speculated correctly; and querying a control register to determine whether a condition has been met for performing a move operation.
This invention relates to speculative execution of conditional move instructions in a processor to improve performance by reducing pipeline stalls. Conditional move instructions typically require checking a condition before executing the move, which can cause delays in the instruction pipeline. The invention addresses this by speculatively executing conditional moves based on prediction data stored in a prediction storage. The method involves decoding a speculative conditional move instruction and accessing prediction data from the storage, which includes a confidence level indicating the likelihood of the condition being true. If the confidence level exceeds a threshold, the instruction is executed speculatively. After execution, the system verifies whether the speculation was correct and updates the prediction storage accordingly. If the speculation was incorrect, the instruction is re-executed non-speculatively. The method also checks a control register to determine if a condition for performing the move operation has been met. The prediction storage is updated dynamically to improve future predictions, reducing pipeline stalls and enhancing processor efficiency. This approach leverages historical execution data to optimize performance without requiring complex hardware modifications.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the prediction storage comprises a table having a plurality of entries, each entry associated with one or more previously executed speculative conditional move instructions.
A system and method for optimizing speculative conditional move instructions in a processor pipeline. The technology addresses inefficiencies in handling conditional move operations, which can lead to pipeline stalls or incorrect speculative execution due to unresolved conditions. The method involves storing predictions for conditional move instructions in a dedicated storage structure to improve performance. This storage structure is implemented as a table with multiple entries, where each entry is linked to one or more previously executed speculative conditional move instructions. The table allows the processor to quickly retrieve and apply prediction data for similar instructions, reducing latency and improving accuracy. The system dynamically updates the table based on execution outcomes, refining predictions over time. This approach minimizes pipeline disruptions by preemptively resolving conditional moves before their conditions are fully evaluated, enhancing overall processor efficiency. The table may include metadata such as instruction addresses, condition types, and prediction confidence levels to support accurate decision-making. By leveraging historical execution data, the method ensures that speculative conditional moves are handled more efficiently, reducing the risk of mispredictions and improving throughput.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein an entry is to be associated with a particular address or portion thereof associated with the one or more previously executed speculative conditional move instructions.
The invention relates to computer systems and specifically to optimizing speculative conditional move instructions in processors. The problem addressed is the inefficiency in handling speculative conditional move instructions, which can lead to performance bottlenecks due to incorrect predictions or redundant operations. The method involves tracking previously executed speculative conditional move instructions and associating entries with specific memory addresses or portions thereof. This tracking allows the system to predict future conditional moves more accurately, reducing unnecessary computations and improving overall performance. The entries may include metadata such as prediction outcomes, branch history, or other relevant data to enhance prediction accuracy. By associating entries with particular addresses, the system can quickly retrieve relevant information when similar conditional move instructions are encountered, enabling faster decision-making and reducing the overhead of speculative execution. This approach minimizes the impact of mispredictions and ensures that the processor operates more efficiently, particularly in scenarios with repetitive or predictable conditional move patterns. The method may also involve updating the entries based on new execution data, ensuring that the prediction model remains accurate over time. This dynamic adaptation helps maintain performance improvements even as program behavior changes. The system may further include mechanisms to invalidate or refresh entries when necessary, preventing stale data from affecting predictions. Overall, the invention provides a solution for optimizing speculative conditional move instructions by leveraging address-based tracking and prediction, leading to improved processor efficiency and
9. The method of claim 6 further comprising: performing the move operation in response to detecting the condition.
A system and method for data management in a distributed computing environment addresses the challenge of efficiently moving data between storage locations while minimizing disruptions to ongoing operations. The invention involves monitoring a distributed storage system to detect specific conditions that trigger a data move operation. These conditions may include storage capacity thresholds, performance degradation, or cost optimization criteria. When such a condition is detected, the system automatically initiates a move operation to transfer data from a source storage location to a target storage location. The move operation is designed to be non-disruptive, ensuring that ongoing read and write operations continue without interruption. The system may also prioritize data based on access patterns, frequency of use, or other metadata to optimize the move operation. Additionally, the system may verify the integrity of the moved data and update metadata references to ensure consistency across the distributed system. The invention improves data management efficiency by automating the relocation of data in response to dynamic conditions, reducing manual intervention and enhancing system performance.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the control register comprises an EFLAGS register and the condition comprises one or more bits being set in the EFLAGS register.
The invention relates to a method for controlling processor operations based on the state of an EFLAGS register in a computing system. The EFLAGS register is a standard processor register that contains status flags indicating the results of arithmetic and logical operations, such as zero, carry, overflow, and sign flags. The method involves monitoring the EFLAGS register to detect specific conditions, where a condition is defined by one or more bits being set in the EFLAGS register. When the specified condition is met, the processor executes a predefined operation or sequence of operations. This allows for dynamic control of processor behavior based on runtime conditions, enabling more efficient and adaptive processing. The method can be used in various applications, such as conditional branching, error handling, or performance optimization, by leveraging the EFLAGS register to trigger specific actions. The invention builds on prior techniques for register-based control but introduces a more flexible and condition-driven approach.
11. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having program code stored thereon which, when executed by a machine, causes the machine to perform the operations of: decoding a first speculative conditional move instruction; storing prediction data related to previously executed speculative conditional move instructions in a prediction storage; and reading the first prediction data associated with the speculative conditional move instruction, the reading comprising reading a first entry in the prediction storage associated with the first speculative conditional move instruction containing at least one value indicating a confidence level; speculatively executing the speculative conditional move instruction if the confidence level is above a threshold; determining whether the speculatively conditional move instruction was speculated correctly and responsively updating the prediction storage; re-executing the speculative conditional move instruction non-speculatively if the speculative conditional move instruction was not speculated correctly; and querying a control register to determine whether a condition has been met for performing a move operation.
The invention relates to speculative execution of conditional move instructions in a processor to improve performance by reducing pipeline stalls. Conditional move instructions typically require waiting for a condition to be resolved before execution, which can cause delays in the processor pipeline. The invention addresses this by speculatively executing conditional move instructions based on prediction data stored in a prediction storage. The prediction storage contains entries associated with previously executed speculative conditional move instructions, including confidence levels indicating the likelihood of correct speculation. When a new speculative conditional move instruction is encountered, the processor reads the corresponding entry in the prediction storage. If the confidence level is above a threshold, the instruction is executed speculatively. After execution, the processor checks whether the speculation was correct and updates the prediction storage accordingly. If the speculation was incorrect, the instruction is re-executed non-speculatively. Additionally, the processor queries a control register to determine if a condition for performing the move operation has been met, ensuring correct execution while minimizing pipeline stalls. This approach improves processor efficiency by reducing unnecessary stalls while maintaining accuracy through feedback-based prediction updates.
12. The machine-readable medium of claim 11 wherein the prediction storage comprises a table comprising a plurality of entries, each entry associated with one or more previously executed speculative conditional move instructions.
The invention relates to a system for optimizing speculative conditional move instructions in a computing environment. The problem addressed is the inefficiency in handling speculative conditional move instructions, which can lead to performance bottlenecks due to incorrect predictions or excessive memory access. The system includes a prediction storage mechanism that stores predictions for speculative conditional move instructions. This storage is implemented as a table with multiple entries, where each entry corresponds to one or more previously executed speculative conditional move instructions. The table allows the system to quickly retrieve and reuse prediction data, improving execution efficiency by reducing redundant computations and memory accesses. The prediction storage table is dynamically updated based on the outcomes of executed instructions, ensuring that future predictions are more accurate. The system also includes a mechanism to manage the table entries, such as evicting outdated or less frequently used entries to maintain optimal performance. By leveraging historical data, the system minimizes the overhead associated with speculative execution, particularly in scenarios where conditional moves are frequently encountered. This approach enhances processor performance by reducing mispredictions and improving instruction throughput, making it particularly useful in high-performance computing environments where speculative execution is critical. The invention focuses on optimizing the handling of conditional move instructions to achieve faster and more efficient processing.
13. The machine-readable medium of claim 12 wherein an entry is to be associated with a particular address or portion thereof associated with the one or more previously executed speculative conditional move instructions.
A system and method for optimizing speculative conditional move instructions in a processor pipeline. The technology addresses inefficiencies in handling speculative execution, particularly when conditional move instructions are executed speculatively and later determined to be incorrect, leading to wasted processing cycles and pipeline stalls. The invention improves performance by tracking and managing speculative conditional move instructions to reduce unnecessary operations and improve branch prediction accuracy. The system includes a storage mechanism that records entries associated with speculative conditional move instructions. Each entry is linked to a specific memory address or portion thereof, allowing the system to identify and manage previously executed speculative instructions. This tracking enables the processor to avoid redundant operations, correct mispredictions more efficiently, and maintain pipeline efficiency. The storage mechanism may be implemented as a dedicated hardware structure or integrated into existing processor components like the branch prediction unit or reorder buffer. By associating entries with specific addresses, the system ensures that speculative conditional move instructions are accurately tracked and resolved, minimizing performance penalties. The invention enhances processor efficiency by reducing the overhead of speculative execution and improving the accuracy of conditional move instruction handling. This approach is particularly beneficial in high-performance computing environments where speculative execution is heavily utilized.
14. The machine-readable medium of claim 11 wherein the operations further comprise: performing the move operation in response to detecting the condition.
A system and method for managing data storage operations involves detecting a specific condition related to data storage and automatically performing a move operation in response. The condition may involve factors such as storage capacity thresholds, data access patterns, or system performance metrics. The move operation transfers data between different storage tiers or locations to optimize performance, reduce costs, or improve efficiency. The system monitors storage conditions in real-time and triggers the move operation without manual intervention. This approach ensures that data is dynamically relocated based on current system demands, preventing storage bottlenecks and maintaining optimal performance. The method may also include analyzing historical data usage patterns to predict future storage needs and preemptively adjust storage configurations. By automating the move operation, the system reduces administrative overhead and minimizes disruptions to data access. The solution is particularly useful in large-scale storage environments where manual management is impractical. The invention improves storage efficiency by intelligently redistributing data based on real-time conditions and predictive analytics.
15. The machine-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the control register comprises an EFLAGS register and the condition comprises one or more bits being set in the EFLAGS register.
The invention relates to computer systems and specifically to the use of control registers in processors to manage conditional operations. The problem addressed is the need for efficient and flexible control of processor operations based on system state, particularly in scenarios where certain conditions must be met before executing specific instructions or operations. The invention involves a machine-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, configure a processor to perform operations based on the state of a control register. The control register is an EFLAGS register, which contains status and control flags that reflect the processor's operating conditions. The invention checks whether one or more specific bits in the EFLAGS register are set, indicating particular conditions such as overflow, carry, zero, or sign flags. If the condition is met, the processor proceeds with the intended operation; otherwise, it may skip or alter the operation accordingly. This approach allows for dynamic control of processor behavior based on real-time system conditions, improving efficiency and reducing unnecessary computations. The use of the EFLAGS register ensures compatibility with existing architectures while enabling precise conditional execution. The invention is particularly useful in performance-critical applications where conditional branching or state-dependent operations are frequent.
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April 14, 2020
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